Reddie Ray was striding to the plate.

There was something about Reddie Ray that pleased all the senses. His
lithe form seemed instinct with life; any sudden movement was
suggestive of stored lightning. His position at the plate was on the
left side, and he stood perfectly motionless, with just a hint of tense
waiting alertness. Dorr, Blake and Babcock, the outfielders for the
Grays, trotted round to the right of their usual position. Delaney
smiled derisively, as if he knew how futile it was to tell what field
Reddie Ray might hit into. Wehying, the old fox, warily eyed the
youngster, and threw him a high curve, close in. It grazed Reddie's
shirt, but he never moved a hair. Then Wehying, after the manner of
many veteran pitchers when trying out a new and menacing batter, drove
a straight fast ball at Reddie's head. Reddie ducked, neither too slow
nor too quick, just right to show what an eye he had, how hard it was
to pitch to. The next was a strike. And on the next he appeared to
step and swing in one action. There was a ringing rap, and the ball
shot toward right, curving down, a vicious, headed hit. Mallory, at
first base, snatched at it and found only the air. Babcock had only
time to take a few sharp steps, and then he plunged down, blocked the
hit and fought the twisting ball. Reddie turned first base, flitted on
toward second, went headlong in the dust, and shot to the base before
White got the throw-in from Babcock. Then, as White wheeled and lined
the ball home to catch the scoring Clammer, Reddie Ray leaped up, got
his sprinter's start and, like a rocket, was off for third. This time
he dove behind the base, sliding in a half circle, and as Hanley caught
Strickland's perfect throw and whirled with the ball, Reddie's hand
slid to the bag.

Reddie got to his feet amid a rather breathless silence. Even the
coachers were quiet. There was a moment of relaxation, then Wehying
received the ball from Hanley and faced the batter.

This was Dump Kane. There was a sign of some kind, almost
imperceptible, between Kane and Reddie. As Wehying half turned in his
swing to pitch, Reddie Ray bounded homeward. It was not so much the
boldness of his action as the amazing swiftness of it that held the
audience spellbound. Like a thunderbolt Reddie came down the line,
almost beating Wehying's pitch to the plate. But Kane's bat
intercepted the ball, laying it down, and Reddie scored without
sliding. Dorr,